Separable connector



Aug. 5, 1958 E. c. ELSNER SEPARABLE CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 3, 1957 Ila/1? IN VEN TOR.

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United States Patent SEPARABLE CDNNECTGR Edwin C. Eisner, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Aeroquip Corporation, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 3, 1957, Serial No. 681,722

6 Claims. (Cl. 24-265) This invention relates to a connector for fastening a strap, web, rope, or the like to anchor means, and is characterized by quick release means enabling fast disconnection therefrom.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial Number 664,629, filed June 10, 1957, for a Separable Connector.

The invention is further characterized by simplicity of operation and low cost of manufacture, and it is an object of the invention to provide a separable connector that comprises simple elements, themselves connected only by the strap, web or rope which is to be connected to the anchor means, and which interact to form a positive connector when the strap, web or rope is under tension, and yet may be quickly and readily manipulated for separation from an anchor member to which it is connected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector strung on the loop of a strap, web or rope, and comprised of interdependent, but separate and simple, elements in side-by-side relation, which, when the strap, web or rope is under tension, make firm and positive connection with an anchor member, and when the strap, web or rope is slacked off, are adapted for quick and easy manipulation to effect separation from the anchor member.

Further objects of the invention are to provide connector means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position, and quickly and easily disconnected therefrom, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from a consideration of the description which follows taken in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an edge view of the separable connector embodying my invention, connected to an anchor member which is shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the connector, connected to an anchor member which is shown in crosssection.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the connector.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, also taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, but showing the connector in the process of being separated from the anchor member.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a modification of the invention.

An anchor member 5 is fastened to a wall, floor, or other base or support 6. The anchor 5 is formed so as to have a member 7 spaced from the wall or floor 6 and adapted to separately connect to the connector 14. To accomplish this the member 7 is provided with an elongated slot or opening 9, the width thereof being defined between slot-defining lips 10. It will be understood that member 7 is preferably of metal or other material capable of withstanding considerable pull or stress in a direction away from the base wall or floor 6.

A strap, web, rope, or the like, 11, is formed into a closed loop 12 at one end thereof. When 11 is in the form of a strap or web, the loop 12 may be created by stitching as at 13, in which case a portion of the strap or web is double backed on itself. Loop 12 may also be formed by other suitable means. The strap 11 is preferably made of pliable material of which woven webbing is exemplary. By way of illustration and not of limitation, webbing made of some of the stronger but softer and more pliable synthetic fibres, such as nylon, is preferred in order to enable the loop 12 to be deformed to various shapes. It will be understood, however, that the strap 11 may comprise a cord or rope, and that such member is intended to include strapping, webbing, cord, rope and similar flexible elongated material.

The loop 12 carries the connector 14 which, by en- 1 gagement with the anchor member 5, connects the strap 11 to the wall or floor 6.

The connector 14 shown in Figures 1-5 inclusive comprises two similar flanking elements 16, the flanking elements being arranged in side-by-side relationship 1 and having an overall thickness somewhat less than the width of the slot 9. Each of the flanking elements 16 is provided with a' slot 17 through which the loop 12 passes, thereby retaining said elements in a side-by-side relationship to each other. The loop 12 constitutes a common connecting means for the elements 16 of the connector 14.

Each element 16 is provided with a lateral flange 22,

the flanges of said elements extending in opposite directions. Said flanges are preferably formed as bent portions of the elements 16, and the dimension between. the longitudinal outer edges thereof is substantially "greater than the width of slot 9 in the anchor member 5. When strap 11 is held under tension as shown in Figures 1" and 3, elements 16 are held in the side-by-side arrange:

ment, and flanges 22 are in hooking engagement with the under side of slot lips 10, and thus the strap 11 is firmly connected to the anchor member 5 and to the wall or from the slot 9, whereon the other element 16 will readily fall from the slot 9.

Each element 16 is also provided with two lateral flanges 23 of a wing or rocker-arm shape. A winging movement of either element 16 is accomplished in sepq arating the connector from the anchor member Sby light pressure on the free end of the element toward the anchor means 5, causing the element to rock on the flange 23, which then is resting on the anchor member 5, causing the flange 22 of the element to pop out of the slot 9.

Reestablishment of the connection is accomplished in the reverse manner.

It will be realized that the connection will function in.

the above manner regardless of the length of the elements 16 or whether the strap 11 is a strap, web, cord or rope, or is made of other material.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, an efficient. con

nector may comprise only the two elements 16. How! Patented Aug. 5, 1958 3 ever, as shown in Figure 6, the connector may be formed with a middle element arranged in side-by-side relationship with the elements 16 and, together with the elements 1,6,,having an-overallcombined thickness somewhat less than thewidth of the slot ,9. Element ,15 has afbo'dy 18, which has a lower extension19 ofa length sutfic em o a lo e ement 15 to entersl fic r elyther tween the elements 716, but extension 19 issubstantially shorter than .the rest of':the body 18.

By way of'illustration and not of limitation, in practice the middleclement 15 is generally substano'ally thicker thanthe element 16,and will serve as aspacer to separate oneelement1'6'from the other element16 and bring them into;close adjacency,to the'lips 10 of the slot 9-. 'Element l5isitselfprovided with a slot 2 0-through which the loop IZ-passes. Againby way of illustration and not of limitation, in-practicedthasbeen found advantageous to make the slot-20g-wider than-theslots 1'7'so as to permit freer movement-of the element 15in disconnecting,

"In disconnectingthe connector when the element 15 is---a-partofthe combination, upon slackening of the strap, enabling'the loop 12 to be spread in themanner suggested by the dot and dash lines of Figure 6, the elemeat 16 ispulled in a direction away from the member S and Withdrawnfrom the slot 9 so as to-permit one'of the elements 16 to fall into the position shown by the-dot and dash lines in Figure 6, and then to be withdrawn fromthe slot 9 by the winging movement hereinabove described.

While-the instant invention has been shown and describediherein inlwhat is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therein within thescope ofthe invention, which is therefore not. to be limited to thedetails: disclosed herein, but-is: to be accorded the full-scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent deri c fia yingxlescribedimy invention, what I claim as new and desire, to secureby Letters Patent is:

Ac nn ctoradapt d to fit int th n n ngcf an anchor member and carried by the deformable end loop of;,a;- strap the connector comprising two elem nts strung rection away from the anchor member, the flange parts arc=directedtoengage against the underside of the lips of the opening of the anchor member, andeach of the :ele-

ments having rocker-arm flanges formed on the sides,

thereof directed-to engage on the anchor member and provide a winging motion enabling rapid withdrawal of therelements from the opening.

,2. A connector adapted to fit into an opening of an anchormember and carriedby the deformable end loop of'a strap, the connector comprising three elements strung on said, loop andhaving a total thickness less than the width of said opening, the middle element constituting aspacer for the other two elements, each of the other two elements beingprovided with a flange on one end thereof, said flanges being oppositely outwardly directed to -define a dimension between them that is greater than the-width of the opening, whereby, when the three. elements of the connector are inserted into the opening and tension is, placed on the strap in a direction away from the anchor'member, the flanges on the two flanged elements are directed to engage the underside ofthe' lips of theopening in the'anchor member and each of the two flanged elements having rocker-arm flanges formed on the sides -thereof directed to engage on the anchor member and provide a winging motion enabling rapid withdrawal; of 'the elements from the opening,

3. A connector adapted to fit into an opening of an anchor member and carried by the deformable end loop of a strap, the connector comprising three elements strung on the loop and having a total thickness less than the width of the opening, the middle element constituting a spacer for the other two elements and being substantially thicker than the other twoelements, each of the other two elements being provided at one end thereof with an outwardly directed flange, all three elements being formed with a slot therein, the slot in the middle element being substantially wider than the thickness of the strap, -the spacer element being movable relative to the other two elements in a direction to permit the same to bewithanchor member and carried by thedeformable end loop of a strap, the connector comprising three elements trun cn p andh v ng. a total h ckn s tha h th of t op ni h dd e m n con titutin a spacer for the other two elements and being snbstan -tiallylonger than the other two elements, eaph of the other two elements being provided at one end thereof with an outwardly directed flange, all three elements being formed, with a slot therein, the slot in the middle element being substantiallywider than the thickness of the strap, the spacer element being moveable relative to the other two elements in a direction to permit the same to be withdrawn from the opening in the anchor member during deformation of the strap loop while the two flanged elements are still engaged with the anchor member, and

:each of the two flanged elements having rocker-arm flanges formed-on;the sides thereof directed to engage on the anchor member and provide a winging motion enabling rapid withdrawal of the flanged elements from the opening after-withdrawal of the spacer element.

5. A connector adapted -to fit-into an opening of ananchor member and carried by the deformable end'loop of :a-str-ap, the. connector comprisingthrce elements strung on-the loop and having a-total thickness lessthan-the width'of the opening, the middleelement-constituting-a spacer for the other two elements, each ofthe other two elements being provided with a flange on one end thereof, saidflanges being oppositely outwardly directed to define-a dimension between them that is greater thauIthe width of the opening, the loop of the strap engagingthe two flanged elements and being directed towardthe spacer. element when tension is imposed on the strap, whereby, withall three elements ofthe connector inserted in the opening of;the anchorrnember, the flanges of theltwo elements are directed ,to engage against the under-side ofthe lips of the opening of theanchor, member, each. of he two :fla g d elem ha ing rocker-arm flanges formed on the side thereof directed to engage on the ncho m m e an p i sw n ng m nn n b in rapid withdrawal of the elements from the opening.

A rconne oradapt t fi nto a pen n -Q an anchor member and carried by the deformable-end loop of a strap, the connector comprising three elementsstrung on-theloop and having a total thickness less thanyth width oftheopening, the middleelernent constituting a spacerforthe other two elements, each, of the other two elements being provided with a flangeon onecnd thereof, said flanges being oppositely outwardly directed to define a. dimension between them thatis greater thanthe width, of the opening, theloop of the strap engaging the two flanged elements and being directed, toward the spacer ement he en on i mpose Qnthe rap alllh e elements. of the connector being provided with slots through which the loop of the strap passes, the slot in under-side of the lips of the opening of the anchor mmthe spacer element being wider than the slot in the other her, and each of the two flanged elements having rockertwo elements in order to enable relative movement of the arm flang s formed on the sides thereof directed to enspacer element with respect to the other two elements, gage 0n the anchor member and provide a winging whereby, with all three elements of the connector in- 5 (ion enabling Y p Withdrawal of the flanged elflments serted in the opening of the anchor member, the flanges from the opemngof the two elements are directed to engage against the N efe e it d, 

